Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in December 2021

This article documents the chronology and epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and is responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic, in December 2021. The first human cases of COVID-19 were identified in Wuhan, China, in December 2019.

Case statistics

Pandemic chronology 1 December Canada has reported 3,128 new cases, bringing the total to 1,795,626. Malaysia has reported 5,439 cases, bringing the total number to 2,638,221. There are 6,803 recoveries, bringing the total number of recoveries to 2,544,007. There are 49 deaths, bringing the death toll to 30,474. New Zealand has reported 149 new cases, bringing the total number to 11723. There are 17 recoveries, bringing the total number of recoveries to 5671. The death toll remains 44. There are 6,008 active cases (47 at the border and 5,961 in the community). Singapore has reported 1,324 new cases including 1,266 in community, 45 residing in dormitories and 13 imported, bringing the total to 266,049. Eight deaths have been confirmed, bringing the death toll to 726. Ukraine has reported 11,960 new daily cases and 557 new daily deaths, bringing the total number to 3,450,341 and 86,532, respectively; a total of 2,972,192 patients have recovered.

2 December Canada has reported 2,484 new cases, bringing the total to 1,798,105. Malaysia has reported 5,806 cases, bringing the total number to 2,644,027. There are 7,246 recoveries, bringing the total number of recoveries to 2,551,253. There are 47 deaths, bringing the death toll to 30,521. New Zealand has reported 174 new cases, bringing the total number to 11,895. There are 33 recoveries, bringing the total number of recoveries to 5,704. The death toll remains 44. There are 6,147 active cases (47 at the border and 6,100 in the community). Singapore has reported its first two cases of the Omicron variant. The cases are both imported from Johannesburg. At the same time, the country has reported 1,101 new cases including 1,050 in community, 41 residing in dormitories and ten imported, bringing the total to 267,150. Nine deaths have been confirmed, bringing the death toll to 735. Ukraine has reported 13,531 new daily cases and 525 new daily deaths, bringing the total number to 3,463,872 and 87,057, respectively; a total of 2,995,727 patients have recovered.

3 December Canada has reported 2,733 new cases, bringing the total to 1,801,601. Malaysia has reported 5,551 new cases, bringing the total number to 2,649,578. There are 5,301 recoveries, bringing the total number of recoveries to 2,556,554. There are 17 deaths, bringing the death toll to 30,538. That same day, Malaysia reported its first case of the Omicron variant. New Zealand has reported 98 new cases, bringing the total number to 11,992. There are 55 recoveries, bringing the total number of recoveries to 5,759. The death toll remains 44. There are 6,189 active cases (51 at the border and 6,138 in the community). Singapore has reported 766 new cases including 738 in community, 11 residing in dormitories and 17 imported, bringing the total to 267,916. Nine deaths have been confirmed, bringing the death toll to 744. Ukraine has reported 13,777 new daily cases and 509 new daily deaths, bringing the total number to 3,477,649 and 87,566, respectively; a total of 3,018,620 patients have recovered.

4 December Canada has reported 2,710 new cases, bringing the total to 1,805,070. The Cook Islands reported its first positive case in managed isolation. The patient is a ten-year boy who had returned with his family on a repatriation flight. Malaysia has reported 4,896 new cases, bringing the total number to 2,654,474. There are 4,678 recoveries, bringing the total number of recoveries to 2,561,232. There are 36 deaths, bringing the death toll to 30,574. New Zealand has reported 100 new cases, bringing the total number to 12,087. There are 14 recoveries, bringing the total number of recoveries to 5,773. The death toll remains 44. There are 6,270 active cases (52 at the border and 6,218 in the community). Singapore has reported 743 new cases including 707 in community, 24 residing in dormitories and 12 imported, bringing the total to 268,659. Two deaths have been confirmed, bringing the death toll to 746. South Africa surpasses 3 million cases. Ukraine has reported 13,206 new daily cases and 436 new daily deaths, bringing the total number to 3,490,855 and 88,002 respectively; a total of 3,041,385 patients have recovered. The United States of America surpasses 49 million cases.

5 December Canada has reported 2,628 new cases, bringing the total to 1,807,703. The ten-year-old child in the Cook Islands who tested positive for COVID-19 earlier was later determined to be a non-infectious historical case. Malaysia has reported 4,298 cases, bringing the total number to 2,658,772. There are 4,929 recoveries, bringing the total number of recoveries to 2,566,159. There are 40 deaths, bringing the death toll to 30,614. New Zealand has reported 180 new cases, bringing the total number 12,195. There are 61 recoveries, bringing the total number of recoveries to 5,834. The death toll remains 44. There are 6,317 active cases (53 at the border and 6,264 in the community). Singapore has reported 552 new cases including 523 in community, 14 residing in dormitories and 15 imported, bringing the total to 269,211. 13 deaths have been confirmed, bringing the death toll to 759. Ukraine has reported 6,622 new daily cases and 278 new daily deaths, bringing the total number to 3,497,477 and 88,280, respectively; a total of 3,050,659 patients have recovered.

6 December Canada has reported 2,876 new cases, bringing the total to 1,812,244. Malaysia has reported 4,262 new cases, bringing the total number to 2,663,034. There are 5,894 recoveries, bringing the total number of recoveries to 2,572,053. There are 38 deaths, bringing the death toll to 30,652. New Zealand has reported 136 new cases, bringing the total number to 12,331. There are 51 recoveries, bringing the total number of recoveries to 5,885. The death toll remains 44. There are 6,402 active cases (52 at the border and 6,350 in the community). Singapore has reported 662 new cases including 638 in community, 13 residing in dormitories and 11 imported, bringing the total to 269,873. Four deaths have been confirmed, bringing the death toll to 763. Ukraine has reported 4,478 new daily cases and 239 new daily deaths, bringing the total number to 3,501,955 and 88,519, respectively; a total of 3,059,741 patients have recovered.

7 December WHO Weekly report: Canada has reported 2,966 new cases, bringing the total to 1,815,215. Malaysia has reported 4,965 new cases, bringing the total number to 2,667,999. There are 4,817 recoveries, bringing the total number of recoveries to 2,576,870. There are 66 deaths, bringing the death toll to 30,718. New Zealand has reported 99 new cases, bringing the total number to 12,248. There are 83 recoveries, bringing the total number of recoveries to 5,968. The death toll remains 44. There are 6,416 active cases (41 at the border and 6,375 in the community). Singapore has reported 715 new cases, bringing the total number to 270,588. Eight new deaths were reported, bringing the death toll to 771. Ukraine has reported 8,655 new daily cases and 467 new daily deaths, bringing the total number to 3,510,610 and 88,986, respectively; a total of 3,082,619 patients have recovered.

8 December Canada has reported 3,532 new cases, bringing the total to 1,818,742. France surpasses 8 million COVID-19 cases. Malaysia has reported 5,020 new cases, bringing the total number to 2,673,019. There are 4,525 recoveries, bringing the total number of recoveries to 2,581,395. There are 28 deaths, bringing the death toll to 30,746. New Zealand has reported 90 new cases, bringing the total number to 12,516. There are 41 recoveries, bringing the total number of recoveries to 6,009. The death toll remains 44. There are 6,643 active cases (41 at the border and 6,422 in the community). Singapore has reported 709 new cases, bringing the total number to 271,297. Three new deaths were reported, bringing the death toll to 774. Ukraine has reported 9,371 new daily cases and 450 new daily deaths, bringing the total number to 3,519,981 and 89,436, respectively; a total of 3,109,423 patients have recovered.

9 December Canada has reported 4,271 new cases, bringing the total to 1,823,010. Malaysia has reported 5,446 new cases, bringing the total number to 2,678,465. There are 5,427 recoveries, bringing the total number of recoveries to 2,586,822. There are 41 deaths, bringing the death toll to 30,787. New Zealand has reported 105 new cases, bringing the total number to 12,621. There are 10 recoveries, bringing the total number of recoveries to 6,019. The death toll remains 44. There are 6,558 active cases (42 at the border and 6,516 in the community). Singapore has reported 682 new cases, bringing the total number to 271,979. Five new deaths were reported, bringing the death toll to 779. That same day, the country reported two more cases of the Omicron variant. Ukraine has reported 12,376 new daily cases and 465 new daily deaths, bringing the total number to 3,532,357 and 89,901 respectively; a total of 3,133,970 patients have recovered.

10 December Canada has reported 4,745 new cases, bringing the total to 1,827,755. Malaysia has reported 5,058 new cases, bringing the total number to 2,683,523. There are 4,997 recoveries, bringing the total number of recoveries to 2,591,819. There are 44 deaths, bringing the death toll to 30,831. New Zealand has reported 95 new community cases, bringing the total number of cases associated with the Delta variant outbreak to 9,552. Two deaths were also reported. 56 people are in hospital and there are 6,630 active cases. Singapore has reported 454 new cases, bringing the total number to 272,433. Four new deaths were reported, bringing the death toll to 783. Ukraine has reported 11,327 new daily cases and 442 new daily deaths, bringing the total number to 3,543,684 and 90,343, respectively; a total of 3,158,426 patients have recovered.

11 December Canada has reported 3,921 new cases, bringing the total to 1,831,733. Jordan surpassed 1 million COVID-19 cases. Malaysia has reported 4,626 new cases, bringing the total number to 2,688,149. There are 4,690 recoveries, bringing the total number of recoveries to 2,596,509. There are 31 deaths, bringing the death toll to 30,862. New Zealand has reported 96 new cases, bringing the total number to 12,717. There are 24 recoveries, bringing the total number of recoveries to 6,043. Two deaths were reported, bringing the death toll to 46. There are 6,630 active cases (38 at the border and 6,592 in the community). Singapore has reported 559 new cases, bringing the total number to 272,992. Six new deaths were reported, bringing the death toll to 789. Turkey surpasses 9 million cases. Also, the country reported its first case of the Omicron variant. Ukraine has reported 10,133 new daily cases and 446 new daily deaths, bringing the total number to 3,553,817 and 90,789, respectively; a total of 3,184,287 patients have recovered.

12 December Canada has reported 3,496 new cases, bringing the total to 1,835,229. Malaysia has reported 3,490 new cases, bringing the total number to 2,691,639. There are 5,399 recoveries, bringing the total number of recoveries to 2,601,908. There are 17 deaths, bringing the death toll to 30,879. New Zealand has reported 104 new cases, bringing the total number to 12,884. There are 26 recoveries, bringing the total number of recoveries to 6,100. The death toll remains 46. There are 6,738 active cases (41 at the border, 6,696 in the community, and one under investigation). Russia surpasses 10 million COVID-19 cases. Singapore has reported 370 new cases, bringing the total number to 273,362. Five new deaths were reported, bringing the death toll to 794.